Advancing Women

Marty believes that when women succeed, Boston succeeds. He understands that while Massachusetts’ legislation to close the gender wage gap was an important step forward, what’s needed is a culture shift from the ground up, across every boardroom and workplace in our City. That’s why as mayor he elevated Boston’s Office of Women’s Advancement and empowered it to be a national policy leader in forging pathways to equity in wages and leadership.

Marty’s Record

Empowering women’s leadership. Marty appointed women to key positions in his administration, including chiefs of policy, housing, digital, and arts and culture, commissioners of public health and veterans services, and directors of immigration advancement, budget, and workforce development.

Working with private employers to close the gender pay gap. With business leaders, Marty created the 100% Talent Compact. The compact is a first-in-the-nation, public-private partnership. By signing on, businesses pledge to take concrete, measurable steps toward eliminating the gender gaps in wage and representation in their companies.

Giving women tools for career advancement and wage equity. Partnering with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Marty created free salary negotiation workshops for working women in Boston. So far, Boston has trained over 4,400 women. In September, the City, the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston, and the Boston Foundation released their first report on the success of salary negotiation workshops, called “Gaining Ground on Equal Pay.” The report notes that 48% of women who took part in these salary negotiation workshops used these new skills to help negotiate a higher salary. Read the news coverage.

Empowering women’s entrepreneurship. Marty created “Women’s Entrepreneurship Boston”, a joint effort between the Office of Economic Development and the Office of Small Business. WeBOS advances Boston’s Women entrepreneurs by providing the skills, technical assistance, and network they need to launch and grow their businesses.

Setting a high standard for work-life policies that lower barriers for women. His first year in office, Marty established paid parental leave for City of Boston employees.

Making Boston a leader in ending human trafficking. The City of Boston launched CEASE (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation) Boston, a chapter of the CEASE network, and partnered with 11 pioneering cities committed to combatting sex trafficking.

Marty’s Plan

Continue to get companies to sign onto the 100% Talent Compact.Right now, 214 companies across Greater Boston have signed onto our Compact, which gives us potential to analyze data on up to 25% of our workforce.

Train half of Boston’s working women. Continuing to work with the American Association of University Women, we will train 90,000 women, or half of Boston’s women workforce, over the next 5 years on how to negotiate higher salaries.

Expand work-life policy to address child care costs. Mayor Walsh is determined to help families meet this crucial economic challenge and tear down the barriers it presents to women’s opportunities.